New Zealand's Bushman NBA Star Steven Adams Wore Camo To Meet Kiwi PM

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In the United States, it is tradition for the Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup or NBA champions to visit the White House and meet with the President.

Regardless of your personal style, it is an event that usually sees players don expensive suits and ties for the cameras.

That's not the case in New Zealand.

Yesterday, Kiwi NBA star Steven Adams met with New Zealand prime minister John Key wearing a camo jacket and cap. The cap was adorned with the logo of his team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The meeting took place in Key's private office in the Beehive – New Zealand's principal government building in Wellington – and saw Adams 'hongi' with New Zealand's leader.

A hongi is a traditional Maori welcome which sees two people press their noses together to 'share the breath of life.'

Key described Adams as "a New Zealand hero."

Adams' Thunder team mates Nick Collison and Andre Roberson were also on hand to meet Key, who posed with the trio with an OKC jersey gifted to the Prime Minster.

The Thunder players are currently traveling through Adams' home country holding youth basketball camps. Adams, who was born and raised in Rotorua, attended secondary school in Wellington - where he first started playing basketball.

The last season of the NBA was Adams' third in the league, and most successful as the Thunder reached the Western Conference finals – only to be beaten by the Golden State Warriors in seven games.

Adams, a 23-year-old centre who attended Pitt before reaching the NBA, was a force for the Thunder in the playoffs. He has developed a reputation in the NBA for his physical style, cheeky off-court interviews and eagerness to spread his love of Kiwi culture abroad.

He is only the third New Zealander to play in the NBA after current Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks, and former Wisconsin Badger Kirk Penney.